blueantartica
05-05-2005, 03:30 AM
Nuggets find a measuring stick after Spurs eliminate them
BY DAVID RAMSEY
The Gazette
SAN ANTONIO - (KRT) - Denver Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe enjoys talking about his dream of bringing an NBA championship to Colorado.
On Wednesday night in a loud, happy SBC Center, Vandweghe sat behind the Nuggets' bench and saw how far his team still has to travel.
He saw the difference between a very good team and an elite team.
The San Antonio Spurs bumped off the Denver Nuggets, 99-89, and turned their eyes to the future. The Spurs roar off to the next round of the NBA playoffs.
The Nuggets are left to ponder how they switched from the NBA's sizzling team to a 4-1 series loser.
Denver transformed under the direction of coach George Karl. The Nuggets ended the season playing before packed houses at Pepsi Center.
These Nuggets brought basketball excitement not seen in Colorado in more than a decade. They played a generous, hustling brand of basketball.
As a reward, they were given the chance to play the Spurs, the NBA's deepest, classiest franchise.
That's bad luck. Karl shrugged last week when talking about the Spurs.
At the time, he was feeling optimistic. Denver was tied, 1-1, in the series.
"We're very similar," Karl said of the Spurs and Nuggets.
He paused. "Except they have Duncan."
Ah, George, that's a rather huge difference.
It was a difference the Nuggets could only fail to overcome in Wednesday's Game 5.
Duncan collected 18 points, 11 rebounds and five assists and delivered the game's signature moment.
With 7:36 left, Duncan drove the lane, drew the attention of Denver's interior defense and then deftly dumped the ball to Nazr Mohammed.
Mohammed was so thrilled by the pass he badly missed a dunk. The ball sailed high into the Texas air.
Duncan rose above everyone, seized the ball and flipped the ball to Glenn Robinson.
Robinson, known as the "Big Dog," swished a 3-pointer. The Spurs led, 80-72, and the Nuggets were doomed.
San Antonio turned a 77-72 advantage to an 85-73 lead and the party began in the Alamo City.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was grumpy after the game.
He said his team "didn't know what the hell" it was doing on offense.
He wondered where Tony Parker's free-throw touch had gone.
Parker missed five of seven free throws. But even Popovich was thrilled by the play of his team's bench.
Manu Ginobili scored 18, which was expected, but ancient Robert Horry ripped the Nuggets for 17.
"You know," Popovich said, "you can't win without a bench."
Karl knows. He watched his bench get outscored 42-14 by the Spurs.
Still, after the game, Karl declined to mourn.
He was thrilled by the progress of Carmelo Anthony, who skipped past Bruce Bowen - one of the game's best defenders - for 25 points.
Karl looked back on a team that bumbled around with a 17-25 record, a team that reversed itself and earned a playoff berth.
"This feels like the end, but it's really a beginning," he said. "It's a special team."
Popovich agreed. He said Karl will continue to improve the Nuggets.
"They've got a bright future," Popovich said.
Popovich knows the Nuggets are improving but he isn't worried.
He knows he has Duncan.
BY DAVID RAMSEY
The Gazette
SAN ANTONIO - (KRT) - Denver Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe enjoys talking about his dream of bringing an NBA championship to Colorado.
On Wednesday night in a loud, happy SBC Center, Vandweghe sat behind the Nuggets' bench and saw how far his team still has to travel.
He saw the difference between a very good team and an elite team.
The San Antonio Spurs bumped off the Denver Nuggets, 99-89, and turned their eyes to the future. The Spurs roar off to the next round of the NBA playoffs.
The Nuggets are left to ponder how they switched from the NBA's sizzling team to a 4-1 series loser.
Denver transformed under the direction of coach George Karl. The Nuggets ended the season playing before packed houses at Pepsi Center.
These Nuggets brought basketball excitement not seen in Colorado in more than a decade. They played a generous, hustling brand of basketball.
As a reward, they were given the chance to play the Spurs, the NBA's deepest, classiest franchise.
That's bad luck. Karl shrugged last week when talking about the Spurs.
At the time, he was feeling optimistic. Denver was tied, 1-1, in the series.
"We're very similar," Karl said of the Spurs and Nuggets.
He paused. "Except they have Duncan."
Ah, George, that's a rather huge difference.
It was a difference the Nuggets could only fail to overcome in Wednesday's Game 5.
Duncan collected 18 points, 11 rebounds and five assists and delivered the game's signature moment.
With 7:36 left, Duncan drove the lane, drew the attention of Denver's interior defense and then deftly dumped the ball to Nazr Mohammed.
Mohammed was so thrilled by the pass he badly missed a dunk. The ball sailed high into the Texas air.
Duncan rose above everyone, seized the ball and flipped the ball to Glenn Robinson.
Robinson, known as the "Big Dog," swished a 3-pointer. The Spurs led, 80-72, and the Nuggets were doomed.
San Antonio turned a 77-72 advantage to an 85-73 lead and the party began in the Alamo City.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was grumpy after the game.
He said his team "didn't know what the hell" it was doing on offense.
He wondered where Tony Parker's free-throw touch had gone.
Parker missed five of seven free throws. But even Popovich was thrilled by the play of his team's bench.
Manu Ginobili scored 18, which was expected, but ancient Robert Horry ripped the Nuggets for 17.
"You know," Popovich said, "you can't win without a bench."
Karl knows. He watched his bench get outscored 42-14 by the Spurs.
Still, after the game, Karl declined to mourn.
He was thrilled by the progress of Carmelo Anthony, who skipped past Bruce Bowen - one of the game's best defenders - for 25 points.
Karl looked back on a team that bumbled around with a 17-25 record, a team that reversed itself and earned a playoff berth.
"This feels like the end, but it's really a beginning," he said. "It's a special team."
Popovich agreed. He said Karl will continue to improve the Nuggets.
"They've got a bright future," Popovich said.
Popovich knows the Nuggets are improving but he isn't worried.
He knows he has Duncan.